
- 368 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
“Inspiring and joyous.”—People
"Heartwarming . . . infectious . . . Morillo's The Boy Who Reached for the Stars is every bit the inspiration he means it to be."—Kirkus Reviews
The engineer known as the “space mechanic” speaks to both our future and past in this breathless memoir of his journey from Ecuador to NASA and beyond.
Elio Morillo’s life is abruptly spun out of orbit when economic collapse and personal circumstances compel his mother to flee Ecuador for the United States in search of a better future for her son. His itinerant childhood sets into motion a migration that will ultimately carry Elio to the farthest expanse of human endeavor: space.
Overcoming a history of systemic adversity and inequality in public education, Elio forged ahead on a journey as indebted to his galactic dreams as to a loving mother whose sacrifices safeguarded the ground beneath his feet. Today, Elio is helping drive human expansion into the solar system and promote the future of human innovation—from AI and robotics to space infrastructure and equitable access.
The Boy Who Reached the Stars is both a cosmic and intimate memoir spun from a constellation of memories, reflections, and intrepid curiosity, as thoroughly luminous as the stars above.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Introduction
- Chapter 1: Launchpad: From Ecuador to the Unknown
- Chapter 2: Landing Site Selection: New York
- Chapter 3: Pad Reconstruction: Puerto Rico and the Kindness of Strangers
- Chapter 4: Ground Support: Adverse Weather Conditions
- Chapter 5: Load and Go: The Academic Dynamics That Shaped My Dreams
- Chapter 6: Defying Initial Conditions: Built to Be Tougher than Expected
- Chapter 7: Launch Vehicle Rollout: Developing an Empire State of Mind
- Chapter 8: Final Countdown: Education, the Silver Bullet to Poverty
- Chapter 9: Liftoff: Skyrocketing to My Dreams
- Chapter 10: Mission Control Center: The Data That Helped Shape My Identity
- Chapter 11: Max Pressure: Inching Closer to Real-World Results
- Chapter 12: Cruise Phase: Mastering Engineering While Monitoring a Family Reality
- Chapter 13: Trajectory Correction: Preparing to Reach for the Stars
- Chapter 14: Entry, Descent, and Landing: The Rover, the Helicopter, and Me
- Chapter 15: Surface Operations: Searching for Joy
- Epilogue: Beaming Toward a Compassionate Future
- Acknowledgments
- References
- About the Author
- Copyright
- About the Publisher